Today, August 8, marks three years since the world lost the beloved and unforgettable Olivia Newton-John — a voice of pure grace, a presence of warmth, and a spirit that touched millions. And now, for the first time, Barry Gibb, the last surviving member of the Bee Gees and Olivia’s longtime friend and collaborator, has spoken about the one regret that has lingered ever since: he never got to say goodbye.
In a voice low and unsteady, Barry recalled the last time they spoke — a brief phone call filled with laughter, song memories, and plans that would never come to be. “I thought there would be more time,” he admitted. “I thought we’d see each other again, sing together again… but the next call I got was to tell me she was gone.”
The two had shared not just stages and recording studios, but moments of true friendship away from the cameras — evenings spent talking about life, family, and the music that had carried them both through triumph and heartbreak. Barry described Olivia as “one of the kindest souls I have ever known,” her optimism unshaken even in the face of her long battle with illness.
On this solemn anniversary, Barry chose to honor her the only way he knew how — with music. In a quiet studio in Miami, he recorded a stripped-down version of a duet they once performed together. No elaborate arrangement, no production — just his voice, a guitar, and the echoes of her harmony in his memory. “I sang it for her,” he said softly. “And I hope somehow she heard it.”
For Barry, the pain is not just in losing a fellow artist, but in losing a friend whose laughter and light could lift even his darkest days. “It’s the little things,” he reflected. “The way she smiled when she sang. The way she could make you feel like you were the only person in the room.”
As fans around the world remember Olivia Newton-John today — through her timeless songs, her iconic performances, and her tireless advocacy for causes close to her heart — Barry Gibb’s words serve as a reminder of the human connections behind the music. The friendships, the shared dreams, the moments that matter most… and how fragile they truly are.
Three years have passed, but for Barry, the wound remains.
“I never got to say goodbye,” he whispered. “So I’ll just keep singing to her… until I see her again.”